MIRACLE MOMENT®
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”–Viktor Frankl
A MESSAGE from Founder/Executive Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN
The new year has not begun with a joyous bang. Instead, we are anxious over political polarity. The war in Ukraine grinds on as the deaths in Gaza mount without the release of the Israeli hostages. As I write this, the apocalyptic, uncontained fires in Los Angeles have burned over 12,300 structures and swept over 40,000 acres. The wind-fed wildfires have killed at least 24 people and left over 180,000 people evacuated, plus another 87,000 in evacuation warning zones. Thousands of people have lost everything, and insurance may not be available. The smoke and particulate matter are dangerous, posing immediate and long-term threats. Firefighters and first responders are working around the clock to protect the public through heroic efforts, many of them losing their own homes while battling blazes to save others.
Tensions are high everywhere. If there ever has been a time for everyone to come together with kindness and love to combat these challenges, it is now. With Operation Disaster Relief, Be the Star You Are!® will send books for all ages to shelters as we do in disasters country-wide.
On a positive note, we are thrilled that three of our Be the Star You Are!® teen volunteers have earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award, recognizing their important impact on the community. We also have a few changes happening for our organization. Our two radio broadcasts on Voice America Radio have merged with a new platform, Libsyn, offering listeners a curated experience. Our Book Reviews are being moved from our BTSYA.org to our BetheStarYouAre.org main site within the next few months so that everyone including parents, teachers, librarians, and others will be able to access the reviews on one platform. Thanks for your patience while we improve the website.
As we face the challenges of 2025, may we all be the phoenix that rises from the ashes.
Stay hopeful, be kind, and keep the faith.
Let’s bond together to find the “happy” in this new year.
Cynthia Brian
Founder/Executive Director
Be the Star You Are!®
PO box 376
Moraga, California 94556
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RECIPIENTS OF THE PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD
Be the Star You Are!® 501c3 is a certified organization for 'The President’s Volunteer Service Award’ (PVSA). The President’s Volunteer Service Award is an opportunity to honor the most outstanding volunteers and recognize the impact they make in our world. In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.
The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.
Led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers. Requirements to be considered for the award with Be the Star You Are!® include volunteering for at least a full year with over 100 hours of volunteer service and participation in a minimum of one in-person event for those residing in Northern California.
Thank you to our PVSA Certification Coordinator, Eraniyan Gunaseelan, for spearheading these awards. To apply for the PVSA or find additional requirements, email info@BetheStarYouAre.org with PVSA in the subject line.
We currently honor three teens who have received ‘The President’s Volunteer Service Award.” They are Keerthi, Julia, and Nandini. Read what they say about their volunteer opportunities with Be the Star You Are!®.
KEERTHI
Being a radio host for Express Yourself has been an incredibly meaningful experience for me. It has not only deepened my knowledge but also empowered me to make a positive impact in my community through Be the Star You Are!®. Engaging with listeners and sharing stories that matter has strengthened my commitment to fostering change and raising awareness on important issues. This platform has allowed me to connect with diverse voices and amplify causes that are close to my heart, making every moment behind the microphone truly rewarding. As the chairperson for the Pear and Wine Festival, I’ve had the joy of combining leadership with community engagement, especially working with kids. Organizing this event, particularly with the excitement of BTSYA's 25th-anniversary parade, has been a highlight of my year. Watching children light up as they participate in the festivities and seeing their enthusiasm for community involvement has been incredibly fulfilling.
JULIA
Being with Be the Star You Are!® and Express Yourself! Teen Radio team has been absolutely life-changing for me. I joined this incredible community right before starting high school, at a time when I was utterly terrified. I had spent my middle school years in lockdown, and the world around me felt like it was relentlessly spinning, with nothing to ground me. Then one quick Google search led me to one of the most profound and supportive communities I’ve ever experienced. From the moment I showed up at the Moraga Faire, Cynthia Brian and the Be the Star You Are!® team welcomed me with open arms. I still remember how a group of smiling teens brought me into the booth and gave me the run-down on everything—not just about BTSYA, but about life, like which ice cream flavor is the best. Just in that day, I found so much joy in reading Cynthia's wonderful book No Barnyard Bullies to kids, planting seedlings with them, and seeing the seeds of literacy grow in them. A month later, I joined Express Yourself! Teen Radio, where I was terrified of having my voice broadcast to the world. But soon, my co-host Sharanya and I were laughing, and I was just smiling and smiling and smiling. This show is completely authentic—no scripts, no overediting, just real, candid conversations from teenagers. Comparing myself to the scared girl I was now three years ago, I know she’d be amazed at how far she’s come. BTSYA has taught me how to laugh, how to connect, and how to embrace my voice as a tool for change. I’m deeply honored to have had the opportunity to work with BTSYA, and it’s been such a rewarding experience contributing to the radio shows, events, and initiatives. I’ve loved being part of a team that makes such a positive impact.
NANDINI
I am grateful for the opportunity I received to volunteer with Be the Star You Are!® as a Star Teen Book Reviewer. Being an avid reader and writer, I greatly enjoyed the ability to work on my hobbies while uplifting families, women, youth at risk, and others. From many of the books I have reviewed, I have learned the importance of issues and ideas that are highly applicable in the real world. Moreover, I was able to freely express my opinions about multiple works of writing, and in the process, develop my analytical and critical thinking skills. It was and will continue to be, a great experience and journey which has inspired me. I hope I have inspired others as well.
KINDNESS TODAY
by Karen Kitchel
Challenge yourself to accomplish one act of kindness today.
Give a compliment: Look for a service worker who was prompt, friendly, or simply doing their job well, and give them a compliment.
Connect with others: Text, call, or email a friend or family member just to let them know you’re thinking of them.
Be helpful: Set the table for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Be generous: Leave a generous tip today with a note on the check “You are appreciated.”
Support Disaster Relief: Make a donation to help in whatever way you can,
Give thanks: Let others know when you’re happy spending time with them.
Offer appreciation to our firefighters and first responders everywhere who risk their lives to save others.
Not only does kindness make you feel good, but what you said or did may inspire others to do the same!
Karen Kitchel is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She purchased the book, No Barnyard Bullies, as a gift for every kindergarten student where she is a volunteer teacher. www.scatteringkindness.com You can read more about Karen’s adoption story in the book Be the Star You Are! Millennials To Boomers.
NEW RADIO PLATFORMS ANNOUNCED
Beginning in 2025, both of our radio shows that broadcast on the Voice America Network Empowerment Channel will now be on the libsyn.com platform. You can also listen to both programs wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220Find out more about Express Yourself! at https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio
Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617
StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® will be LIVE on Wednesdays from 4-5pm PT on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VoiceAmericaEmpowerment
EMBRACING CHANGE AND GROWTH
by Anshu Valapadasu
Our lives are constantly shifting, adapting to the world around us. We must change as well—both physically and mentally. A new beginning represents a second chance to embrace ourselves for who we truly are, learn from our mistakes, and continue along with our journey filled with endless opportunities. It provides a moment for reflection on our desired goals and values for the future to shape our mindset accordingly. Everyone holds the potential to become greater than they believe, and it is through new beginnings that we unlock this potential. Change is one of the most fundamental parts of life that we must be willing to embrace in order to live life to the fullest extent. Similar to a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly, we as humans also go through phases of growth. Each challenge teaches us lessons, allowing us to evolve into the best versions of ourselves, ready to soar.
Anshu Valapadasu is a 9th grader who enjoys spending time reading, writing, and playing violin. She volunteers as a Book Reviewer and Content Creator for Be the Star You Are!®
SUPPORT BTSYA WITH MERCHANDISE
If you are a fan of Be the Star You Are! charity, you can now buy quality shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, kid’s T-shirts, long-shirt tees, and hats in many colors on our new Bonfire Official Merchandise site with proceeds benefiting the charity. Check it out and shine with Be the Star You Are! clothing. Here's the link https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/
Make a DONATIONto SUPPORT DISASTER RELEIF through PAYPAL GIVING FUND with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
Or you can choose to make the donation using many different payment methods which may have fees via by Givebutter at https://givebutter.com/be-the-star-you-are-charity
LINKS you can use for Be the Star You Are!®
Positive Results: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/positive-results
About Us: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/about_us
Programs: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/programs
How to Help: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/how-to-help
Contact us: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/contact
May we rise with hope, faith, and kindness to make 2025 a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
StarStyle® Empowerment is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/a-new-year-of-challenges?
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